Incast's Podcast

Most of us listening today live in a well-resourced country and have access to skilled obstetrical/perinatal care. Although we do not have a perfect healthcare system here in the U.S., it is hard to imagine the realities of birth in the places in Africa we are going to talk about today.   When complications arise in the U.S. and other western countries, there are medications, supplies, and trained providers to respond in most cases.  But in Africa, there may not be any skilled birth attendants or the equipment they need to save lives during a birth if things go awry.  Many women receive little or no prenatal care. In fact, the lifetime risk of a woman dying from complications of childbirth in Africa can be as high as 1 in 38, compared to 1 in 7,500 in the U.S. Complications that may be handled without too much difficulty in a well-resourced country may lead to tragedy there.   In this episode, we will hear firsthand about the challenging situations and needs that medical providers have in various places